Duterte on ABS-CBN: I told Congress they're dealing with scoundrels

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said that he had struck at ABS-CBN, saying that he told members of Congress that they were dealing with cheats.

Duterte made the remark just three days before he stepped down from Malacanang and almost two years after a House committee denied the franchise renewal of the media company.

Then presidential spokesman Harry Roque maintained Malacanang was neutral on the issue of ABS-CBN's franchise despite Duterte's grievances against the company such as the unaired campaign advertisements in 2016.

"Tinira ko talaga sila," Duterte said.

"I used the presidential powers to tell Congress that you are dealing with scoundrels and if you continue to kowtow with them, kawawa ang Pilipino" he added.

Duterte made the remarks in a speech after the oath-taking of local officials in his hometown of Davao City, where his son Sebastian was elected mayor.

During his speech, he also had words to say about other business which he indicated have taken advantage of Filipinos.

The National Telecommunications Commission on May 5, 2020 ordered ABS-CBN to stop its television and radio operations after its franchise expired.

The House Committee on Legislative Franchises on July 10, 2020 junked the corporation's application to renew its franchise.

On September 10, 2020, the NTC took away ABS-CBN's assigned frequencies.

GMA News Online is trying to get ABS-CBN's comment as of posting time.

In its statement after its application was denied, ABS-CBN maintained that its work had "been rendering service that is meaningful and valuable to the Filipino public."

The President also said that ABS-CBN had unpaid tax dues despite the Bureau of Internal Revenue, in February 2020, declaring that ABS-CBN had no pending tax liabilities.

Likewise, the BIR and the Securities and Exchange Commission also said in February 2020 that ABS-CBN did not violate the law.

The said House panel, in denying ABS-CBN's franchise application, claimed ABS-CBN violated its previous franchise because of the following reasons:

• its former Chairman Eugenio Lopez III was both a Filipino and American citizen
• the issuance of Philippine Depositary Receipts supposedly favoring foreigners
• inappropriate program content
• meddling in politics
• tax avoidance schemes
• less than exemplary labor practices, among others. 

— DVM/NB, GMA News